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Campus Life, March/April 2001
I Feel So Lonely
Sometimes it seems like no one understands or cares about us, and that can feel pretty lonely. But no matter how bad we feel, we are never alone. God is always present, and his love for us never changes. That's what these students learned when they were feeling really low.
Never Abandoned
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?" (Psalm 22:1)
I was in a musical based on the Psalms, and I sang a song called "My God, My God" based on the first few verses of Psalm 22. It was a pretty intense (and almost depressing) song with lots of questions and complaints to God. David was in bad shape when he wrote Psalm 22. And I can understand why Jesus quoted from this psalm when he was at his lowest point—dying on the cross.
But that's not the end of the psalm, or the end of the story. The ultimate message of the psalm is that God never leaves us—even when other people say he has, or when it feels like we're totally alone. He never abandoned David. He never abandoned Jesus. And he'll never abandon you or me. —Viannah
What About You?
1) What was the loneliest time in your life? How did God help you get through it?
2) Write down some similarities between David's psalm and Jesus' death. (You can read about the crucifixion in Matthew 27:32-56.)
3) Thank God for always hearing your cries for help.
When Times Are Tough
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food … yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
My life hasn't been easy. One of my parents died, and I have had a lot of bad days since then. People try to help me feel better, but it doesn't always work. Sometimes I feel completely alone, with no one to talk to. But even in those bad times, I know God is there for me.
I guess it's normal to get down sometimes. And it's normal to feel like your life is a big mess, especially when something awful happens. That's why God wants us to know we can count on him, even when it seems like the whole world is against us.
No matter how down we feel, no matter how bad life seems, God is there. He has seen me through some really tough times, and I know he will do the same for anyone who asks for his help —Brian
What About You?
1) Think about a time you felt like nothing was going right. How did you feel about God during this time?
2) Write down some things that are really good about your life. The next time you feel down, take a look at that list and thank God for those good things.
3) Ask God to help you find joy in him, even in tough times.
He'll Never Leave You
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
I recently went through a time when I got really depressed. Even when I was with my friends, I felt like no one cared about me. I could barely get out of bed in the morning.
Somehow I had forgotten the truth of these verses. I needed someone to remind me, "Don't think that no one cares about you, because God does!" God still loved me, and nothing was going to change that.
God must really care for us if there isn't anything that can separate us from his love. Knowing that I can always turn to him keeps me going during hard situations. He is also there when things in my life are fun and easy. He is there with me through the worst of times and the best of times. —Sarah
What About You?
1) How do you feel when you know you're loved?
2) Think of someone you know who's hurting and needs a little love. What is one thing you can do to encourage that person this week?
3) Thank God for his constant love.
You're Never Alone
Other passages to read and study
Isaiah 53:3
Jesus understands rejection
1 Peter 5:7
God cares about your feelings
Matthew 11:28-29
Find comfort in Christ
Isaiah 43:1-4
In hard times, God's there
Lamentations 3:22-26
Trust him to answer
Psalm 27:10
You can count on him
Joshua 1:9
God is always with you
Psalm 103:1,5
God can satisfy your desires
Philippians 4:19
He'll meet all your needs
Try This!
Write about each passage in a journal or notebook. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
1) What does this passage tell you about dealing with loneliness?
2) What are three questions you have about this passage? Write down your own answers, then ask a Christian friend or your youth leader how they would answer. Write down their answers, too.
3) Ask God to help you trust in his loving presence even when you don't feel like he's there or that he could love you.
4) Using the devotions in "Faith Builders" as a model, write your own devotion based on the passage.
The devotions in this section were taken from The NIV Teen Devotional Bible (Zondervan). Featuring 260 devotions written by students, this Bible also offers help for personal and spiritual growth.
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.
March/April 2001, Vol. 59, No. 8, Page 10
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